verb
waits; waited; waiting
[no obj] :to stay in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives, until it is your turn to do something, etc.
to not do something until something else happens [no obj]
[no obj]
to remain in a state in which you expect or hope that something will happen soon
to remain in a state in which you expect to learn or find out something soon
[no obj] :to be done or dealt with at a later time
[no obj] :to be in a place ready to be dealt with, taken, etc. - always used as (be) waiting
accident waiting to happen
can't wait
or can hardly wait
If you can't wait or can hardly wait, you are very excited about doing something or eager for something to happen or begin.
hurry up and wait
wait a minute/moment/second
used to tell someone to stop and wait briefly
used to interrupt someone or something because you have noticed, thought of, or remembered something
wait at table
Brit formal :to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
wait for it
chiefly Brit informal - used to emphasize that the following statement is foolish, surprising, funny, etc.
wait in
[phrasal verb] Brit :to stay at home and wait for someone or something to arrive
wait on
also wait upon
[phrasal verb]
wait on/upon (someone)
to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress to (someone)
to provide service to (a customer) :to help (a customer) make purchases
to act as a servant to (someone)
wait on/upon (someone or something) chiefly US :to wait for (someone or something) to arrive or happen
wait out
[phrasal verb]
wait (something) out or wait out (something) :to stay in one place until the end of (something)
wait tables
US :to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
wait until/till
used to emphasize that a future event is going to be very surprising, important, etc.
wait up
[phrasal verb]
to delay going to bed while you wait for someone to arrive
chiefly US informal :to stop moving forward so that someone who is behind you can join you
what are you waiting for?
used to say that someone should do something immediately
noun
plural waits
[count] :a period of time when you must wait - usually singular
lie in wait
to hide and wait for the right moment to make an attack